NEW DELHI (AFP) - To stars like Ernie Els and Colin Montgomerie could turn up for the European Tour's controversial new 2.5-million-dollar event in India next February, organisers said on Monday.

The inaugural Indian Masters, to be played from February 7-10 at the historic Delhi Golf Club, is being promoted by 'Golf in Dubai', the company which organises the popular Dubai Desert Classic.

European Tour chief executive George O'Grady promised the presence of "as many good players as possible" since the event would come on the heels of the Dubai tournament.

"The European Tour travels to many lands, wherever we are invited. We bring some of the best players in the world," O'Grady told reporters.

"We will have one of the strongest fields on the Tour ever, although it is too early to confirm the line up. We expect some really top players to come here, players of such calibre as Ernie Els."

Els is one of the brand ambassadors of golf in Dubai along with the likes of Montgomerie, Henrik Stenson, Lee Westwood and India's star Jeev Milkha Singh.

The prize money for the Indian Masters is five times bigger than the one offered by the Indian Open, an Asian Tour event which will take place in New Delhi in October, and is the richest ever in the country.

O'Grady sought to brush aside the controversy that has shrouded the event ever since the Asian Tour and the local association - Professional Golf Tour Of India (PGTI) - threatened a boycott.

"We have been invited to host a tournament in India, we are not pushing our way through," O'Grady said.

"It is a shame that the PGTI is not here (with us) but we are talking with them. We are also very close to reaching an agreement with the Asian Tour. We want both PGTI and the Asian Tour on our side."

The PGTI and the Asian Tour have described as "unethical" the European Tour's policy to keep them out of the loop and host an event on its own.

Reigning Indian Open champion Jyoti Randhawa said in June the European Tour should have joined hands with the Asian Tour and the PGTI to organise the event.

"It's a big event, bigger than anything we have had in India till now, but by not involving the Asian Tour and the PGTI, the European Tour has not respected the protocol that exists between any two Tours," he said.

"What we are saying is, make us part of the bandwagon. As long as the Asian Tour and the PGTI are made partners in the event, there is no problem. I am confident things will get sorted out."

Randhawa is one of three Indians who play on the European Tour, the other two being Jeev and Shiv Kapur.